THE RSPCA has launched an appeal for information after 13 live rats were deserted.

The animals are believed to have been abandoned in Valley Woods, off Hillside Drive, Ellesmere Port, at about 4pm on Saturday March 19, by the passenger of a silver people carrier-type vehicle, which was spotted pulling up at the junction between Rivacre Brow and Hillside Drive.

The passenger is about 16 with dark, collar-length hair. He was wearing a red Liverpool football shirt, and carrying a black bin bag and a cage.

Some of the rats were shaken out of the bin bag, while others were dumped still in their cage.

The driver of the car was a woman, with long, dark hair, aged between 35 to 40 years. The front seat passenger was of a similar appearance.

RSPCA inspector Leanne Hardy, who is investigating the incident, said: 'Whoever dumped these animals had no concerns for their welfare, and preferred to leave them to die rather than rehome them responsibly.'

The rats, all aged between four weeks and 10 weeks, are now being cared for by an individual on behalf of the RSPCA and will eventually be re-homed.

If you have information, call the RSPCA on 08705 555999. Calls are in confidence and are charged at the national rate.